Wbapping-machine



E. L. SMITH AND A. E. PHELON.

WRAPHNG MAGHlNE. APPLICAHON man FEB. 5. I919.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET Y TTORNEYS E. L. SMITH AND A. E. PHELON.

WRAPPING MACHiNE.

APPLICATION men FEB. 5. 1919 1,313,863, Patented 19,1919.

6 SHE -SHEET 2- A TTORNEYS.

E. L. SMITH AND A. E. PHELON.

WRAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATIONT ILED FEB. 5. 1919.

Patented Au 19, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. L. SMITH AND A. E. PHELON.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, I919.

l ,3 1 3,863 Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

BY ATTORNEYS.

E. L. SMITH AND A. E. PHELON. WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men rm. 5. 1919.

1,313,863. Patent/ed Aug. 19,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

w/j BY 4 W 9 r MTORNEYS.

E. L. SMITH AND A. E. PHELON.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

nrrucmou FILED rcs.5.191s. 1,313,863. Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

' a SHEETS-SHEU s.

/ Q I I 4 i i i i i I: i h H I! I i INVENTOR5 [W 1%" ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Elam L. SMITH AND E. P3112011, OI SPRINGFIELD, messes-cam, 816N035 '10 IPACK-AGE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, m- OHUSB'II'S, A OORPOMTION 0F MACHUBE'I'IS.

. marrnnamomam 1,31 ,3 3, Specification of Letters latent. Patented Aug. 19, 1919. Application fled February I, 1019. 8611.11 I0. 875,290.

To all whom it may comcm: wrapped and a lunger to eject the arti- Be it known that we,Er.Mnn L. Surru and ARTHUR E. PHnmiz, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Sprin eld, in the county of'Hampden and State 0 Massachusetts, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrapping-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to improvements in wrapping machines.

While the improvements are ca able of general application they are particu arly advantageous in machines for wrap ing relatively thin articles. For examp e, among the many uses, of which the improved machine is capable, may be mentioned the wrapping of cakes ofv chocolate and the like. Chocolate bars have during the ast few years gradually diminished in thic ess until the bars have come to be vexg thin and sometimes not greatly thicker t an card. These thin articles, being also readily frangible, are difficult to wrap. It has come to be the custom to insert cards, such as post cards and the like, into the wrapped package for the purpose of stifi'ening the pack- This practlce does not who ly cure the difliculty, however, for the article, prior to engagement with the card, must be carefu ly handled to avoid breaka Moreover, the package, even when inclu ing the card, is still quite thin, so thin, in fact, that the tucking in of the narrow end extensions of the wrapper is troublesome. The Lpresent invention is concerned among ct er things with imrovements which are calculated to substantial] reduce, if not to eliminate, the prior diflicu ties enumerated.

The invention has for an object to pro vide in a wrapping machine,'specifically improved end tucking fingers, which are designed to successfully tuck in the narrow end extensions of the wrapper of relatively thin articles.

The invention also has for an object to rovide in a wrapping machine, a generally lmproved magazine for containing articles to be wrappe and more articularly articles which are readily brea able.

A further object of the invention is to provlde a magazine for articles to be a post cles,-the whole ein directed to articles, which are relatively in, and the magazine combining by its location, with respect to the plunger, to assist in the certain ejection of tlun (and oftentimes beveled) articles by a plunger, which is also necessarily thin (and oftentimes beveled) and which otherwise would have a tendency to ride over or under the articles and defeat ejection thereof.

Another obi'ect of the invention is to provide a genera ly improved magazine for the reception of cards or the like, to be wrapped with the articles, the construction being particularly characterized by improved means for preventing the return of the thin card into the magazine after it has once been e]ected.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for feeding the cards to the articles, characterized in that the card feeding means combine with the article feeding means, to effectually feed the one in properl timed relation with the other.

Anot er object of the invention is to provide end tucking fingers, which operate to make their tucks in the wrapper while the article is held in. a pocket, the fingers, after having been moved to make their folds, be-

in arranged to remain in their moved positions, to subsequently lay down and crease other extensions of the wrapper.

Another object of the invention is to provide folding blades, which cooperate with one wall of the article retaining pocket of a tumble box, or the like, to fold extensions of the wra'pper thereover, and thereby iron down the fold. These blades are further arran to remain in engagement with the folds uring the ejection of the articles from the tumble box and are timed by, and cooperate with, the members which cause such eJection.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a wra ping machine, having several intermittent y movable tumble boxes arranged so that articles from one are transferred to the other, a sim lified and generzlly improved means of e ecting this trans- Other objects and advantages will appear in the following descr ptwn and in the 111% trative embodiment of the invention in the accompanying draw ngs, in wh ch Figure '1' is a sectional elevational view of the left end of a wrapping machine embodyin the invention;

i 1 is a sectional elevational view of the right end of the machine and is a continuation of Fig. 1". Figs. 1 and 1" should be imagined as joined together end to end to give a complete sectional elevation of the machine;

Figs. 2' and 2" are sectional plan v ews of Figs. 1' and 1"; and should be imagined as joined together end to end to give a complete plan view of the machine;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken generally along the line 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary rear elevational view of the machine;

Fi 5 is a fragmentar sectional eleva tiona view of the card mac ine;

Fi 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the 11118 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentar cross sectlonal view taken on the line 7 of Fig. 2";

Fi 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sec tiona view taken similarly to Fig. 1 but showing a different relative positioning of parts and particularly the card and article eeding device;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the last named devices;

Fig. 10 is 9. fr entary cross sectional view of the base dFiilie article magazine;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the latter, taken similarly to Fig. 1" but showing a different relative positioning of the parts;

Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are perspective views of the articles, showing successive stages in the wrapping thereof;

Fig. 15 is an end view of the partially wrapped article showing another stage in the wrapping;

Fi 16 is a sectional plan view taken on the 11116 16-46 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the completely wrapped article;

Fig. 18 is an elevational view of one of the end tucking fingers;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatical view illustrative of the operation of the end tucking rs; and

ig. 20 is a fra entary end elevational view of a artia y wrapped article illustrative of t e preliminary step in the end tucking operations.

The machine in general, comprises, an improved magazine for the articles to be wrapped; a series of alined but separated passages through which the articles to be wrapped may travel; article feeding mechanism to feed articles from the magazine to one of said passages; means through which wrappers, labels and the like may be successively supplied to, and positioned in the path of the articles; a series of spaced tumble boxes to transfer articles from one passage to another and assist in applying the wra ping material about the articles; and fol in devices cooperating with one of the tum le boxes to complete the folding of the inner wrapper; mec anism to transport the articles from one tumble box to another; feeding means tosupply cards or the like into the path of the articles and arranged so that the cards are positioned in correct relation with the articles and carried along therewith by the transporter mechanism; adhesive applyinge devices to gum the outer wrapper or la 1, whereby 1ts edges may subsequently be sealed together; and a delivery conveyer to carry the wrapped articles from the machine and having; associated therewith, devices to hold t e gummed seam from opening until the adheslve has had time to set.

Considering the machine somewhat more specificall in connection with the work which it, 1n its present illustrative embodiment, is adapted to perform, articles a, such as cakes of chocolate or the like are fed in at one end of the machine pass in a straight line to the other end thereof. During the travel of an article, an inner wrapper b is first fed into the ath thereof,

and, as the article is fed into t e first tumble box, the wrapper b is laid partially around the sides of the article, as shown in Fig. 12, leaving one extension 0 to be subsequently laid down to completely inclose the sides of the articles. As the latter is removed from the first tumble box, the extension 0 is folded down, as shown in Fig. 13, so that the two ed 3 of the wrapper b overlap. A card (Z, en stantially of t e same dimensions as the bottom face of article a, is fed to, and subsequently carried along with, the article. Card of covers the longitudinal overlap ed seam of wra per 6 ig. 13) and also unctions as a sti enin member to prevent breaka of the artic e, which, when the latter 1s a thin cake of chocolate or the like, might other wise occur. The article is now entirely inclosed except for its ends and, at each end, there are a pair of relatively narrow wra per extensions 6 and a pair of relative y wide wrapper extensions f. The article a, wrapped and having the card d applied thereto, as shown in Fig. 13, is then fed into thesecond tumble box, which, as well as the other tumble bo'xes, moves intermittently. Durin an interval of rest of the second tumble ox, the end. extensions e are first laid down, the wrapping then appearing as shown in Fig. 14. The end extensions f are operated upon during the movement of the second tumble box from the position,

wherein the end folds c are made, to the by such walls are open at both ends and at plasition wherein the article is discharged m thesecond tumble box. The two fods f at each end of-tbe article "are first folded n the same direction until they both stand at right angles to the fiat bottom face of the article, as shown in Fig. 15. As the articlethus wrapped, is ejected from the second tumble box, the extensions which have been previously creased by t e rior folding operation described, are laid flat against card at on the bottom face of the article. The latter then passes into the third tumble box and in so doing a label 9, substantially coextensive in len h with the article, is partially wrapped 9. out the sides thereof, in a manner exactly similar to that in which the inner wrapper b is applied, so that one projecting extension remains to be folded on ejection of the articles from the tumble box. Such fold is engaged, during a period of rest of the thlrd tumble box, by an adhesive applying device, so that the label extensions, when folded b the ejection of the articles from this tum le box will adhere to that portion of the label on which it is overlapped, as

shown in Fig. 17. The articles, now completely wrapped, are conveyed from the machine and the ed overlapped seam h of label 9 is he] from opening by suitable means until the adhesive has had time to set.

The general frame structure of the machine, together with the main drivi connections therof, will first be describe with particular reference to Figs. 1', 1, 2 and 2". A represents a suitable supported table or bed late, from which columns, as i (Fig. 2") and other colunms, as j (Fig. 2") arise, as indicated. These columns 15 and j are connccted by bars 76 (Figs. 1 and 1 and these bars are intended as supports for the label and wrapper feeding mechanisms respectively. The columns 11 and j and bars is have been largely omitted from the drawings, as well as the label and wrapper feeding mechanism with which the invention is not particularly concerned. The table A has a longitudinal opening 1 in its upper face to receive, and permit the movement of, the three tum'ble boxes. These tumble boxes, represented generally b 20, 21 and 22 are rotatably supported by orizontal shafts 23, 24, and 25, which span the opening I transversel and aresuitably supported on either side ereof from table A. All of the tumble boxes are of generally similar construction and include a series, (four in this instance) of angularly spaced pockets 26 into or out of which the articles may be radial] moved. The ockets 26 are provided with spaced paralldl walls 27 to engage the top and bottom faces of the articles and these walls are substantially coextenm've with such faces. At least one of the walls 27 is yieldown.

able, as indicated,'and the pockets afforded both sides, to permit movement of the articles into and out of the pocket and to omit the end folding operations, respective The several tumble boxes are driven mtermittently b suitable steps of an lar movement (in t is instance steps 0 ninety degrees) in the following manner: The shaft 24 is provided at one end with a gear 28 (Fi 2 and 4) which is driven by a gear 29 ig. 4) mounted on a stud 30 supported on frame A. As illustrated, the ratio of gears 28 and 29 is such that one sixth of a revolution of the latter will cause one quarter of a revolution of the former. Also fixed to gear 29 is a Geneva cam 31, which is driven by a crank 32, fixed on a horizontal shaft 33, suitably supported below the table A. The arrangement is such that each revolution of shaft 33 will cause one sixth of a revolution of cam 31 and thus one quarter of a revolution of the shaft 24, which carries the tumble box 21. The. latter turns in a counter clockwise direction (lliig. 1) and is arranged to drive the tumble xes 20 and 22 in a reverse direction. Thus shaft 24 is connected by miter gears (Fig. 2) with two axially alined horizontal shafts 34 and 35, which turn in opposite directions but at the same speed and at the same speed as shaft 24. Shafts 34 and 35 are connected by miter gears (Figs. 2" and 2") with the shafts 23 and 25, respectively, which turn in the same direction and at the same speed.

The described shaft 33 is driven by a chain 36 and suitable sprockets from a shaft 37 mounted below bed A, as shown in Fi 1. The chain 36 also engages suitab e sprockets on other parallel shafts, as a shaft 38 (Fig. 1") which is mounted above bedA in brackets m secured to and depending from the described bars 70, and a shaft 39 (Fi 1") which is rotatably supported beneat bed A. The chain 36 also engages an idler sprocket 40 (Fig. 1) The shaft 37 is the main power shaft of the machine and is adapted to be driven from suitable means by the pulley shown in Fi 2. Shafts 38 and 39, as well as the tum'b e box driving shaft 33, function as camshafts, as will later appear in detail. There is also rovided another camshaft 41 (Fig. 1) w ich is rotatably supported beneath bed A and driven by a chain 42, and suitable sprockets, from the described shaft 33.

Adjacent the right hand side of tumble box 20 (Fig. 1 are suitable chute forming members, one of which,the lower member 44,is rigidly supported from a bracket n, which spans the described opening I and is supported from bed A. Member 44 has its upper face substantially in the same horizontal plane as the lower wall 27 of that pocket 26 which lies adjacent the members.

Above the member 44 and in parallel relation therewith is a cross bar 45 which is rig'dly supported at its ends from bracket n 131 screws 46 and spacer tubes 47. The top we 1 of the chute or assage is formed by a plate 48 which is s 'dable vertically with relation to and is guided in the cross bar 45 by pins 49. The latter have heads 50 to limit the downward travel of plate. 48 and. springs 51 tend to yieldingly hold the plate 48 in its lowermost position. The plates 44 and 48 are, thus, maintained in spaced rela- .tion to afford a passage, through which articles and their wrappers may be fed as .they pass to the first tumble box 20. 7

Between the tumble boxes 20 and 21 is a second chute, which is alined with the chute just described. The stationary bottom wall 53 of this chute is formed by the hor zontal portion of an an le shaped plate, which extends transverse across opening 3 and 18 supported from d A by a bracket 0 to which the vertical portion of the angle plate is attached. The upper wall of the second chute consists of a plate 54 yieldably supported from a cross bar 55 in a s1m1lar manner to that already described in connection with plate 48. The cross bar 55 is rigidly attached at its ends to two and longitudinally disposed bars 56 F1 1, 2 and 2*), which in turn are suppo by brackets p from bed A. In line with the left hand edge of plate 54, (Fig. 1") is a vertical plate 57, the upper edge 0 which is disposed substantially in the horizontal plane in which the bottom wall 53 is disposed. The latter has its forward (left hand in Fig. 1") edge spaced from late57 to afiord an opening 58, through w ich the cards 41 may be fed as will appear. The plate 57 is sup from one end of a bar 58 (Fig. 7) w ich is secured at its other end to bed A.

Between the tumble boxes 21 and 22 is a third chute, which includes a fixed lower wall 59 and a yieldable 11 per wall 60, constructed and mounted in t e same way as the walls 44 and 48 of the first chute aibove described.

The magazine for articles to be wrapped will now be described with reference to gs. 1, 10 and 11. As shown in 1", the magazine is arra closely adjacent the chute forming memrs 44 and 48. The ma ine consists merely of a series of suitab e uprights 61, which encompass the four sides of the articles and hold them properly alined for ejection into and through the first chute and into the pockets 26 of the tumble box 20. The base of the magazine is of grid-like formation and includes a series of thin longitudinally disposed bars 62mSFig. 10) which are arran in spaced par el relation and supports by a cross bar 68 (Fig. 1). Cross bar 63 is attached at its ends to twp laterally spaced upstanding brackets g which are secured to the upper face of bed A. The magazine is arranged to receive a stack of the articles a with the lowermost article of the stack resting u on bars 62. The gridlike formation of t e base of the m ine is advantageous where, as is frequent y the case, the articles are of a readily frangible nature, such as cakes of eholocate or the like. Such cakes are now, quite usually very thin, even around the margins of the cake and nerally, except for such margins, the interior of the cake is much thinner. The cakes, therefore, may become chipped and broken and the grid-like base of the magazine allows the broken pieces to drop through the spaces between bars 62 rather than remaln on the base and clog the magazine. The uprights 61 of the latter are plurposely inclined to relieve the lower cakes om as much as possible ofthe weight of the stack. The magazine otherwise is of usual construction and is designed so that the lowermost article of the stack is withdrawn by suitable means, as a plunger, which serves to support the remainder of the stack during its travel in under the magazine. The latter has associated with its exit orifice a yieldable keeper 64 to prevent articles, other than the lowermost of the stack, frcim being ejected with the lowermost artic e.

The mechanism for feeding the inner wrappers b may be of any of the many ty es now well known in the art. Such mechanism has'not been illustrated since it is unnecessary to an understandin of the invention. Any suitable wrapper ceding mechanism may be supported from the cross bars k and be arranged to feed the wrappers b in continuous strip form, verticall downwardly into a guide chute 65 ig. 1"). Such chute is supported b a bracket 1- from the columns 7' and, space vertically below chute 65 and below bed A, is a second alined chute 66, into which the lower end of the wrapper stri passes. The chutes 65 and 66 are arrange closely adjacent the exit of the article magazine on one side and closely adacent the horizontal chute-forming members 44 and 48 on the other side. A part of the keeper 64 and an upturned extension 67 of the member 48 coiiperate to guide the wra per strip from chute 65 into chute 66.

cans are provided to sever the wrapper strip at properly timed intervals to leave merely an individual wrapper resting in chute 66 with its upper end projecting vertically therefrom and lyin between the kee r 64 and extension 6 Such means inclu es a fixed knife blade 68, disposed on one side of the path of the wrapper b and se-' cured to the bracket 1''. A movable blade 69 is ivoted at 7 0 to bracket 'r and is adapted to moved toward and awe from blade 68 to sever the wrapper strip gs. 1 and 2"). As shown in FigWQ, the blade 69 is connected by a link 71 to the upper end of a lever 72, which, as shown in F 4, 1S pivoted intermediate its ends to bed The ower end of lever 72 is connected to one end of a member 7 3 and the other end of the latter is forked to engage the described shaft the magazine against 39 for guiding urposes. Shaft 39 has fixed thereon a cam 4 which has a suitable path therein to receive a roll on member 73, whereby the blade 69 may :be actuated m an obvious manner.

The means, for feedin the articles a from o wrapper b and through the chute forming members 44 and 48 into the pockets 26 of tumble box 20, Will nowbe described with particular reference to Figs. 1" and 2. This means comprises a thin, flat plunger 75 which is supported at its rear (right hand as viewed in Fig. 1") end by a bar 76, which in turn is shdable horizontally in suitable wa s 77 rovided in the s aced brackets a' ve escribed. The bar $6 is connected by a link 78 to the upper end of a lever 79, which is pivoted intermediate its ends to a bracket secured to frame A. The lower end oflever 79 is connected to one end of a member 80. The other end of the latter is suitabl slotted to engage the described shaft 41 i or guiding purposes and the member carries a suitable .roll to ride in a'cam path formed in one side (the rear as viewed in Fig. 1") of a disk 81 fixed to shaft 41. This cam path is so desi ed as to move the plan or 75 forwar y to eject an article from t e magazine against the wrap er 6, shortly after the severin action of lade 69, and to force the artic e against its wrapper b and carry the former, with the partially folded wrapper, through the chute forming members 44 and 48 and into a pocket 26 of tumble box 20.. The plunger then recedes until its article en: gaging and lies to the right of the article magazine and dwells in such position until a succeeding cycle of operation.

The articles a are commonly beveled, as shown in Figs. 1 and 11. Where the articles a are readily frangible, as when the articles consist of thin cakes of chocolate or the like, it is essential that the article engaging end of the plunger 75 be correspondingly beveled, for otherwise, the thin edge of the articles engaged by the plunger might be crushed and broken. The beveling of the plunger, however, has a marked disadvantage. Thus, with the beveled surfaces arranged as shown in Fig. 1-1, the plunger tends to cam the articles upwardly while, if the beveled surfaces were reverselyarranged, the plunger, being thin and readily flexed,

would tend to ride over the lowermost arti-' cle a. To overcome this disadvantage the article magazine is inclined to the vertical and arranged to lean toward the rear of the plunger. This a cut tends to concentrate the weight 0 the stack on the rear corner of the lowermost article a so that it is not readily cammed upwardly by the plunger '75. The same arrangement would serve equally well when the coacting beveled surfaces were reversely scnbed.

The article a, when forced into the tumble box 20 has the wrapper 6 partially laid about its sides, leaving merely one wrapper extension 0 to be subsequently laid down. The tum'ble box 20 turns intermittently in a clockwise direction and the article and its wrapper eventually become positioned adjacent, and in alinement with, the chute forming members 53 and 54. As the tumble box approaches the described position, the proarranged as above dejecting fold c engages alate 82 and is laid down into the position own in Fig. 1", so that the article, when ejected from the tumble box 20 into the chute formed by membore 53 and 54, will be completely mclosed by its wrapper. Plate 82 1s pivoted and yieldingly urged into the illustrated position, in the usual manner, by means not shown, and acts to yieldingly hold the extension 0 during ejection of the article so that the extension is drawn tightly about the article and laid flatlyand smoothly thereagainst.

The means for moving the articles from the tumble box 20, through the chute just described and into the tumble box 21 will next be described. Referriizieglto Figs. 2 and 2". two rods 83 are mean in spaced parallel relation, one on each side of the described opening I to slide longitudinally, but not to turn, in the brackets p already described, and in other brackets p. Fulcrumed intermediate their ends on the described shaft 33 (Fig. 1") are two axially spaced levers .84, one arranged closely ad acent each longitudinal edge of the opening Z. Each lever 84 is connected at its upper end by a link 85 to the adjacent rod 83, whereby the rods may be reciprocated upon a swinging movement of the levers. The latter are interconnected at their lower ends by a cross bar 86 and such bar is pivotally connected to one end of an arm 87. The other end of the latter is slotted to engage the described shaft 41 for guiding purposes, and also bears a roll to ride in a suitable cam path formed in the front face of the described disk 81 (Fig. 1"). This cam path is so designed that the rods 83 are held stationary during the intervals of movement of the tumble boxes and move forwardly (to the left as viewed in Figs. 1", 1, 2' and 2") and back again during the intervals of rest of the tumble boxes. The stroke of the rods is substantially equal to the distance between the centers of the two adjacent pockets of successive tumble boxes. On each rod 83 there is fixed an arm 88 (Fig. 2") and the two arms 88 extend toward one another and overhang the opening 1- The arms 88 are so dispose that they travel through the pocket 26 of tumble box 20 and remove the article and its wrap r therefrom, carrying them through the ute forming members 53 and 54 and into the tumble box 21.

During the travel of the articles from. the tumble box 20 to the tumble box 21, the cards d are fed thereto, by means which will now be described. The cards d are containedin a magazine 89 located at the rear of A (Fig. 4). The cards d as shown m Fig. 5, are stacked vertically 1n the magazine and the lowermost card of the stack rests upon a plate 90, which is secured to a plunger 91 mounted to slide on a guide 92 secured to a bracket 8 supported from bed A. bar 93 extends laterally across plunger 91 intermediate its ends and extends a ove plate 90 a distance sli htly less than the thlckness of a card at. us, as plunger 91 moves to the right (Fig. 5) the bar 93 will eject the lowermost card 0! and the plate 90 will underlie the card during the ejection movement. The upper face of plunger 91 serves to support the stack of cards during such movement, the stack dropping slightly as the plunger returns so that the lowermost card is again supported on plate 90. The plunger 91 is reci rocated in a line parallel to the travel of the articles, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2". The means for reciprocating the plunger 91 best appear in Fig. 4. Projecting from one side of the plunger is a pin 94, which is received in the forked upper end of a lever 95, pivoted at 96, and the lever is connected intermediate its ends by a link 97 to a crank 98 on the described camshaft 39.

The magazine 89, being at a distance from the th of the articles a, means are provided to carry the cards into such path. Spaced parallel tracks 99 (F g 2") extend laterally of bed A from a positlon ad acent magazine 89 (Figs. 4 and 5) to a 9S1t101'l adjacent the described plate 57 1g. 7). Side guide plates 100 are, secured to the tracks 99 and project thereabove to guide the cards in their travel. Between the tracks 99, a conveyor chain 101 is provided (Fig. 2) and this chain is arranged to travel over a sprocket 102 (Fig. 4) on a shaft 103, rotatably supported at the rear of bed A, and driven by a chain 104 and suitable sprockets from the described shaft 35, which is intermittently operated. The chain 101 is ided at its other end by an idler sprocket filli (Fig. 7), rotatably sup rted from bed A. Chain 101 has a plum ity of lulgs 106 mounted in suitably spaced re ation t ereon to e the cards 4, ejected from the magazine 89, and propel them along the trackways 99. v

To prevent the cards d, after being ejected 110, secured to bed from magazine 89, from returning with the plunger plate 90, the following means. are provided: A roll 107 (Fifi. 4 and 5), preferably of rubber or the l e, is mounted on the magazine adjacent its exit orifice. The lowermost point on the periphery of roll 107 is substantially in the same horizontal plane as the upper face of the lowermost card (1 of the stack. On, each side of roll 107 are blocks 108, which are secured to and project above one of the trackways 99. The upper face of each block 108 is beveled and slants downwardly toward the magazine so that the lowest point of this beveled face lies substantially in the same horizontal plane as the lower face of the lowermost card (I, while the highest point in such face lies above the lowermost point in the periphery of roll 107. Consequently, as a card (1 is ejected from the magazine, its ends are cammed upwardly and flexed by the blocks 108, so t at when the card leaves the block it may then snap downwardly to prevent a return movement.

The cards are intermittently conveyed along tracks 99 b chains 101 and are successively delivered at properly timed intervals upon a plunger 109 (Fig. 7). A etc A, prevents overtrave of the cards d on plunger 109 and positions them so that their end edges lie in substantially the same vertical lane as the and edges of the articles a, w en the latter are positioned between the chute forming mem bore 53 and 54 already described. As shown in Fig. 1*, the card d, thus deposited on plunger 109, is gositioned between the vertical p ate 57 an the vertical portion of the plate 53. The card d, however, lies below the horizontal plane of travel of articles a. The Iunger 109 has a rectan la r stem 111, whic is mounted for vertica reciprocation in a bracket 1!, on frame A. A link 112 is connected at its upper end to stem 111 and at its lower end to one arm of a bell crank lever 113, which is mounted on a rock shaft 114. The other arm of lever 113 carries a roll, which rides in a path cam 115. This cam is so constructed as to raise plunger 109, immediately after the tumble box 20 comes to rest, to carry the card :1 substantially against the bottom of plate 53. The cards at are substantially coextensive in length with the articles while the plunger 109 and plate 53 are of less length than the articles. Fingers 116 are provided on each of the described article conveying arms 88 in such position as to engage the rear edge of card d, while held beow but closely adjacent the plate 53, and carry it forwardl with the articles a and their wrappers, al as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9. One wall of each pocket 26 is slotted as shown at 116' in Fig. 2 to permit the free passage of fingers 116, and the amaeoa fingers 116 are arranged one on each side of plate 53, which as described is of less length than the cards at, so that the plate 53 does not interfere with the movement of the fingers 116. The inner upper edge of plate 57 is rounded so that the card d, when thus conveyed, may readily rise through the opening 58 into the chute in which the articles are conveyed. The cam 115 is so constructed as to lower plun r 109, after the fingers 116 have engaged t e card d and moved it sufliciently so that the forward edge has passed over the top of plate 57. The cam 115 then hoilds the plunger 109 stationary in its lower position until the tumble box again comes to rest. The card 41 is applied to the wrapper b of article a, by the means just described, as shown in Fig. 13, and the article, wrapper and card are carried in this condition into the second tumble box 21.

The next folding operation consists making the end tucks c (Fig. 14). This operation is performed 'while the article is at rest in the uppermost pocket 26 of tumble box 21, b the following mechanism. The entire en tucking mechanism is supported in the described brackets m from the cross bars k. Referring to Fig. 3, above the shaft 38, which as already described is mounted in and extends between the brackets m is a rock shaft 117, which is mounted to oscillate in the brackets. Below the shaft 38, a rod 118 is fixed to, and extends between the brackets m. Fixed to and depending from rod 118 are a pair of brackets u and to each of the latter is fixed a section shaped late 119 (Fig. 1). The plates 119 are space one from another by a distance substantially equal to the length of the articles a, so that the tumble box 21 can move freely therebetween. Each plate 119 has a right angu larly and outwardly turned flange 120 and the articles come to rest in their upper position with the forward wrapper extensions f lying substantially contiguous with these flanges, all the extensions 6 and f projecting outwardly beyond the plates 119.

In each bracket to are upper and lower horizontal shafts 121 and 122, which are arranged one above another in vertical alinement and are also arranged at right angles to the drive shaft 38 and rock shaft 117. On one end of each of the shafts 121 and 122 are fixed end tucking fingers 123. Near their other ends, the shafts 121 and 122 have fixed thereon segmental gears 124 (Figs. 1 and 3) the gear on each shaft 121 meshin with the gear on the shaft 122 therebe ow, so that a rocking of one shaft in one direction will simultaneously rock the other shaft in the opposite direct1on. Adjacent the gears 124 and on each of the shafts, 121, there is fixed an arm 125. The arms 125 are connected by upwardly extending links 126 to levers 127 fixed on the rock shaft 117, so that a rocking of the latter will actuate all four of the end tucking fingers 123. The rock shaft 117 has fixed on one end thereof a depending arm 128', which car ries a suitable roll to en ge in a path cam 129, fixed on the drive aft 38. The cam 129 is so constructed that the 123 are swung toward one another just after the tumble box 21 has come to rest, whereb the end tucks e are made, and to then hol the fingers in their moved position until the tumble box commences its next etc of movement, and to thereafter return the fingers to the illustrated position before the tumble box again comes to rest.

The fingers 123 are specially constructed as best shown in Figs. 18 and 19. The wrapper en ging ends of these fin ers are of wedge-1i e character, having re atively thin, and somewhat pointed, outer ends 131, whlch diverge outwardly toward the pivots of the fingers to form relatively thick portrons 130. The latter portions are arranged to first engage the wrapper extension 6 and at the outer edges thereof, as indicated in Fig. 19. Such preliminary enga ent of the wrapper extensions by the thic portions 130 operates to force out and spread the extensions, substantially as shown in Fig. 20. This is particularly advantageous where, as here, the articles are very thin, for by first spreading out the extensions e preliminarlly, it is insured that the ends 131, which must of necessity be very thin, will pro erly engage the extensions 6. Without the preliminary fanning out of the extensions, and with very thin packages, the thin end tucking portions 131 would still engage the extensions but the latter might well be forced to one side or the other of the fingers so that the extensions 0 would not be properl tucked in.

he means for laying down the lar er end wrapper extensions f will now be escribed. his folding operation is effected in several stages. First, it has been already described that the fingers 123 remain in their inner positions while the tumble box 21 commences to move. By this arrangement the rearward extensions f are bent at right angles to the major faces of the articles and the line of fold is effectively creased. The forward extensions f are simllarly laid down and creased, as the tumble box commences to move, by means of the described flanges 120. These flanges, however, might also be relied on to lay down the rearward extensions f but they could not act to effectively crease the line of fold thereof. Therefore the end tucking fin rs ment of projections 137 (Figs. 1 an position, wherein they may be discharged rom the tumble box 21 into the chute formed by'members 59 and 60, the extensions f, now preliminarily folded in the manner shown in Fig. 15, are held in such relation by the two spaced arcuate plates 119. The latter serve during the travel of the articles therebetween to H'OII down the folds so that they tend to stay put.

It now remains to lay down fiat against the under side of the articles, those portions of the extensions f, which as shown in Fig. 15, project above the bottom of the articles. This operation is accomplished while the tumble box 21 is at rest and just as the articles are about to be ejected therefrom. As shown in Figs. 3 and 16,abellcrank lever 132 is pivoted to each of the described brackets to.

to swing in a horizontal plane. One arm of each lever 132 carries a folding blade 133 and these blades are movable beneath the plates 119 and can swing inwardly toward one another, and over the uplper plate 27 of the pocket 26 as shown in igs. 1' and 16. The blades are arranged to swing in very close relation to the upper surface of plate 27' and to lay down the remaining port ons of extensions f over and flat against the plate.

These folding blades 133 are automatically operated at the proper time under the control of the members, which function to remove the articles from tumble box 21. Such members consistof fingers 134 which are fixed to the rods 83, as shown 1n Fig. 3, and function in a manner exactly similar to the fingers 88 alread described. The fingers 134 move from t e position, illustrated in Fig. 16, in the direction of the arrow to engage and eject the articles. The short arm of each bell crank 132 has a depending pin 135 which extends below the top surface of the ad]acent fin er 134, as shown in Fig. 3. Each of the ast named arms is connected by a spring 136 with the adjacent stationary plate 119, and the springs tend to swing the foldmg blades 133 toward one another in the manner ust described. The springs 136, however, are held by the engagement of ins 135 with the fingers 134, so that the lades 133 remain in their illustrated position until the fingers move forwardly. The forward movement of the latter allows the blades 133 to be swun toward one another to make the folds escribed. The inward movement of blades 133 is limited by the en with the outer faces of plates 119. The blades 133, then, remain in their moved ositions, during the ejection of the articles mm the tumble box 21, and hold the last folded portions of extensions f until they are engaged by the springnpressed chute forming member 60. The gers 134 carry the articles with their wra rs and cards d through the chute form y members 59 and 60 and into the third tumble box 22.

As the articles ass into the tumble box 22, they are carri against a label or outer wrapper g, which is ed by suitable means not shown) into the chutes 139 and 140 Fig. 1) arranged above and below the path of the articles, respectively. As an article is carried against the wrapper it passes between two rolls 141, one of w 'ch (the u er? is supportedbg a s ring arm 142. e atter is arrange to slightly flexed upwardly b the articles in passing, and therefore yiel i 1y presses the articles against the lower ro 141. The two rolls 141, together, function to create a slight drag on the wrapper g to stretch the same tightly about the articles as they pass into the tumble box 22. The wrapper g is folded about the articles, as they are forced into tumble box 22, in a similar manner to that in which the inner wrapper b is applied, a

for example, as shown in connection with the latter in Fig. 12. Thus, one extension f is left projecting from the pocket of the tumble box. As the latter moves on its next step of movement the lower end of extension f' is carried into an agement with a resilient plate 142 (Fig. 1%, which plate is suitably secured to bed A, as indicated. The tumble box 22 comes to rest with the extension f depending vertically downward and with its lower end. contiguous with the plate 142.

In such position adhesive is applied to the lower end of extension f by the following means: A glue box 143 is removabl secured to the upper end of an Mm 144 w ich in turn is secured at its lower end to a lever 145 pivotally mounted at 146. The lever is pivotally connected to one end of an arm 147 and the other end of the latter is forked to engage the described cam shaft 33 for guiding purposes. The arm 147 is further provided with a suitable roll to ride in a ath cam 148 fixed to the shaft 33. The g ue box 143 is provided with the usual roll (not shown), which receives the adhesive and engw the extension f to gum the latter. e cam 148 is so constructed as to hold the glue box 143, and its roll, stationary duri movement of the tum le box 22 and in such position (to the right of the position illustrated in Fig. 1) that the wrapper ex tension f can freely pass. During the intervals of rest of the turret, the cam 148 causes the glue box 143 to be swun into the illustrated position so that its ro contacts the extension f, which is yieldingly pressed thereagainst by the plate 142. Thus, adhesive may be applied to the extensions f.

It is generally desired to turn the glue box the intervals of which roll stegxby step and, to this end, a ratchet 149 is ed to one end of the shaft 150 of said roll. On the other end of shaft 150 an arm 152 is loosely mounted at a point intermediate its ends. One end of arm 152 is pivoted to bed A at 153 and the other end bears a pawl 154 to engage the ratchet. As the glue box 143 swings toward the wrap r extension f, the arm 152 is swung, re atively thereto, so that pawl 154 turnsthe ratchet in a clockwise direction. During the return movement of the glue box, the pawl 154 rides idly over the teeth of ratchet 149 and the latter is held from counterclockwise rotation by a holding pawl 155 which is pivoted to one wall of the glue box.

As the tumble box 22 tgrns through its next step of movement, the articles are carried into line with a discharge chute 156,-

and when the articles are ejected from the tumble box into this chute, the gummed extension f is laid down and overlapped upon the other end of wrapper g to form the scam in and complete the wrapping. The e ection of the articles from the tumble box 22 is efiected by two fingers 157 fixed to the described reciprocable rods 83. These fingers operate during the intervals of rest of the tumble box to first carry the articles into chute 156 and to then return, leaving the articles so positioned that their rear edges lie substantially vertically above the axis of a sprocket wheel 158, mtatably supfrom bed A. The chute 156 is comof a series of spaced parallel plates 159 (Figs. 1 and 2), which form the top wall, and like spring pressed plates 160, form the bottom wall at the entrance end of the chute. The bottom wall for the remainder of the chute .is shown as composed of a brush 161. A sprocket chain 162, driven by a sprocket 163 from the main drive shaft 37, travels over the described rocket 158, and at least one other sprocket notshown) andisarrangedsothatthe upperlapoflhechain'mpamllel withthe walls of chute 156. Lugs 161 are provided, at suitably spaced intervals on chain 162, to g g the wrapped articles deposited on member 160 and carry along the chute 156. The wrapped articles are held by thzdwalls (if ghute 156 to frErevent'the gumm seam o wrapper g mopemng and the chute 156 is made of suitable length, andthespeedofdminslfifissochosemthat thewra pedarticles areheldinthe chute for a suficient interval to allow the adhesive to set.

Theoperationofthemachinewilllargely appear from the foregoing description and it remains only to briefly demnbe the manner in which the various elements are cop in properly The several cam shafts 88, 38, 39 and 41 are all driven continuously at the same speed, while the several tumble boxes 20, '21 and 22 turn intermittently but simultaneously. The tumble box drive is eoiirdinatcd with the cam-shaft drive since it is effected, through the Geneva cam arrangement described, from the cam 33. One revolution of the latter will cause one cycle of operation of the tumble boxes,- including both the interval of motion and the interval of rest: During each revolution of each cam shaft, the various cams described force the various mechanisms, which they control, through one complete cycle, so that the desired coiirdination is effected. The card transporting mechanism,-the chains 101,operate intermittently in synchronism with the tumble boxes since they are driven from the tumble box drive. The delivery conveyer,the chain 162,-is driven continuously but its surface speed is so chosen that it moves a distance equal to that obtaining between successive lugs 164, during one cycle of operation of the various cams and tumble boxes.

The invention has been disclosed herein in a preferred embodiment for the purposes of illustration but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

What I claim is 1. In a wrapping machine, a folding finger having an outwardly tapering wrapper engaging end and arranged to first engage the wrapper extension near its outer end and with the thicker portion of the finger, whereby the extension is first spread to insure the subsequent engagement of the thin extreme end of the finger with the extension.

2. In a wrapping machine, a folding finger having a thin end adapted to fold a narrow end extension of the wrapper .of the articles and a thicker portion at a distance from such end to preliminarily engage the extension and spread it in fanlike form for subsequent engagement by the thin end.

3. In a wrapping machine, means to wrap an article leaving oppositely disposed pairs of wrapper extensions promoting from an end of the article, some of which extensions are relatively narrow with relation to the other extensions, and means to fold the relatively narrow extensions; said last named means comprising fingers mounted to move in the plane substantially parallel with that of the wider extensions an having wrapper engaging ends which taper from relatively thick portions to relatively thin portions at the tips of the fingers, the latter arranged to be so moved that the thick portions first engage the narrow extensions near the ends thereof and spread such extensions to insure the subsequent engagement of the thin portions therewith to properly complete the folding operation.

4. In a wrapping machine, an intermittently movable carrier having a pocket in which a partially wrap article may be positioned with substantially tubular wrapper extensions projecting beyond the ends thereof, a pair of folding lingers on each side of the carrier, means operable while the latter is at rest to move the fingers of each pair in opposite directions to engage the extensions and tuck in opposite portions ereof against the article, said means arranged to hold the fingers in their moved positions to act as abutments and lay down otherportions of the wrapper extensions, on movement of the carrier.

5. In a wrapping machine, an intermittently movable carrier, having a pocket in which a rti-ally wrapped article may be positioned with substantially tubular wrapper extensions pro ecting beeyond the on s thereof, a pair of folding fingers on each side of the carrier, means operable while the latter is at rest to move the fingers of each pair in opposite directions to engage the extensions and tuck in opposite portions thereof against the article, said means arranged to hold the fingers in their moved positions to act as abutments and lay down other portions of the wrapper extensions on movement of the carrier, and stationary abntments to engage and fold the remaining portions of said extensions on movement of the carrier.

6. In a wrapping machine, an interm ttenttlflya movable carrier, having a pocket 1n whi a artially wrapped article may be positioned with substantially tubular wra per extensions projecting beyond the en s thereof, a pair of folding fin ers on each side of the carrier, means opera le while the latter is at rest to move the fingers of each pair in opposite directions to engage the extensions and tuck in opposite portions thereof against the article, said means arranged to hold the fingers in their moved positions to act as abutments and lay down other portions of the wrapper extensions on movement of the carrier, stationary abutments to and fold the remaining portions of said extensions on movement of the carrier and means to subse uently en ge andhold those portions folde by said a utments and said fingers.

7. In a wrapping machine an intermittentl movable carrier having a pocket in which a artially wrapped article may be positions with a substantially tubular wrapper extension projecting from each end ereof, a pair folding fingers on each side of the carrier, each pair operable while the carrier is at rest to move toward one another to engage and tuck in op ite portions of said extensions leaving 01:83: portions to be subsequently folded, and means to move said fingers into folding position and hold them in such position until the carrier has started on its next step of movement, whereby the fingers function to lay down and crease one of said extensions.

8. In a wrappin machine, an intermittentlyl movable carrier having a pocket in whl'c a artially wrapped article may be position leaving a pair of relatively narrow and oppositely arran ed endwra per extensions and a pair of relatively wide and oppositely arranged end wrap er extensions, folding fingers movable w ile the carrier is at rest to tuck in the narrow extensions against an end of the article, a stationary abutment in the path of said extensions and arranged to first engage one ofthe wide extensions on movement of the carrier, actuatin means for the fingers arran to hold t em between the wide extensions until the carrier has started on its next step of movement, whereby both wide extensions are independently folded in the same direction on movement of the carrier and each extension is separately creased alo its line of fold.

9. n a wrapping machine, an intermittently mova'ble carrier, two spaced walls therem between which a part-ia ly wrapped article may be positioned with an end wrapper extension rojectin at ri ht angles to one of said we ls, a fol ing bfiide mounted to move transversely of and in close proximity to such wall to engage said extension and fold it flat therea inst, means to move the partially wrapp article out of said carrier, and means to hold said blade in its moved position during the removal of the article.

10. In a wrapping machine, an intermittently movable carrier, two aced walls therein between which a partia y wrapped article may be positioned with an end wrapper extension projectin V at right angles to one of said we ls, a fol in b to move transverselyof an in close proximity to such wall to engage said extension and fold it flat thereagainst, means to eject the article from the carrier, and means controlled by the ejecting means to move said blade to folding positlon.

11. In a wrapping machine, an intermittently movable carrier, two 8 aced walls therein between which a partially wrapped article may be positioned with an end wrapper, extension rojecting at ri ht angles to one of said we s, a folding bla' e mountedto move transversely of and in close proximit to such wall to engage said extension an fold it flat thereagainst, means tending to move said blade to folding position, intermittentl operable means recip'rocable toward an away from the pocket to e'ect the articles therefrom and arranged when at rest to hold said blade against movement by its actuating means, whereby when the e ecting means moves to eject the articles ads mounted whic the folding blade is moved to folding position and held there until the return of the ejectin means.

12. n a wrapping machine, an intermittentl movable carrier having a pocket in a artially wrapped article may be positionec with an en wrapper extension projecting substantially at right angles to one wall of the pocket, and means movable when the carrier is at rest to engage said extension and fold it flat against said wall.

13. In a wrapping machine, an intermittentl movable carrier having a pocket in whie a artially wrapped article may be positione with an end wrapper extension projecting substantially at right angles to one wall of the pocket, ejeetlng means to move the article out of the carrier, and means controlled by the ejecting means to fold said extension fiat against said wall during an interval of rest of the carrier.

ELMER L. SMITH. ARTHUR E. PHELON. 

